use bill that would legalise daily fantasy sports (DFS) in Florida has been approved by the Business and Professions Subcommittee.

The legislation introduced by state representatives Matt Gaetz and Ritch Workman was voted in favour of 10-3.

The proposed bill would require DFS operators to verify that players are at least 18 years old, restrict employees and their relatives from playing games for cash and create penalties for operators who break the law.

The subcommittee have since amended the bill so that operators would also pay a licence fee of $500,000 and an annual renewal fee of $100,000.

During a discussion of the bill Gaetz explained that if DFS is legalised then Florida “will become a model for the country, and that we will show the country how to appropriately deal with fantasy contests".